Bethalto investigates wastewater discrepancy

BETHALTO — The Bethalto Village Board last week tabled discussion on potential changes in the amount of money Bethalto pays to Alton for wastewater treatment.

Bethalto sends their waste to Alton’s treatment facility because the village doesn’t have one of its own.

Village Attorney Ken Balsters said that he found a 61-million-gallon discrepancy between meters.

According to his calculations, the village should pay about $4,000 less per month than Alton has suggested. An engineer’s report suggested that the meters’ calibration needs to be checked.

The village elected to not make any decisions until the numbers could be verified.

Also last week, the board passed a resolution to name a stretch of Route 140 “LCpl Kenneth Corzine Memorial Drive.”

Mayor Alan Winslow said the serviceman, a “local boy, born and raised here,”died from complications after a roadside bomb explosion. Corzine received a Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon while serving in Afghanistan.

Board members also voted to demolish a building at 514 B St.

Officials say they will apply for grants to pay for the demolition of the structure, which was deemed structurally unsound after complaints led to an investigation that discovered overgrown grass, termite-ridden beams, broken floors, torn-down walls and gushing water.

The meeting also announced the appointment of Tim Brown as assistant fire chief.

Former chief Nick O’Dell resigned to work as a full-time firefighter in Edwardsville.

Brown said his qualifications include several state certifications, leadership experience, and 17 years of experience as a firefighter. He said he’s “looking forward to filling the role” and intends to continue the work done by O’Dell.

The board also approved an auction of rarely used village items including but not limited to vehicles, office supplies, a “Betty Boop wallet” and a number of bicycles found by the police department.